Lalaleo Yambú – Dance

Lalaleo is the singing of repeated syllables such as "la-la-le-o", without meaning. In rumba such a sung opening is called the diana.

In rumba

  • Yambú: according to EcuRed, yambú begins with a sung lalaleo, "syllables repeated like a clarion call", the diana. After the soloist's verses, the chorus answers again with the lalaleo. In yambú the diana is longer than in guaguancó.
  • Guaguancó: in guaguancó the singer improvises some "tralalala lalá" in the diana to set out the melody he will then sing; because the ensemble has no melodic instrument, the voice carries the whole melody. According to Wikipedia, the diana also includes the first choral refrain.

See also the estribillo, the moment when the dancing starts.

📝 Sources